The residence of All Progressives Congress, APC, chieftain in Otukpo local government of Benue state, Alhaji Abubakar Usman has been set ablaze by suspected arsonists.
Alhaji Abubakar a.k.a Young Alhaji, confirmed the incident saying it happened around 3am on Wednesday.
Our correspondent gathered that the fire affected some section of the main building, burnt down the security house completely.
It was also learnt that a casket which was placed in front of his house to announce the death of his party, APC, was also burnt.
Speaking to journalists on phone, Young Alhaji said the arsonists used petrol bomb to burn his house.
He said, “The incident happened around 3am. It burnt one section of my house and my security house is totally burnt. They threw in a petrol bomb.”
Speaking on the casket in front of his house, Young Alhaji said he personally placed the coffin in front of his house four days ago “to signify that our party is about to die and we need to take steps to save it. It was just a message. That’s all.
“I place the coffin there because of the crisis and happenings in the party in my zone. So I put that coffin there to show that if quick action is not taken, the party would call for oxygen.
“The crisis is over deputy governorship which some people like John Ochoga, Simon Shango and Tilley Gyado are insisting on Samuel Ode while I, as leader of the party in the zone, is saying that it should go to Apa/Agatu.”
Asked if he is suspecting anyone to be responsible for the fire, he quickly retorted, “I’m not suspecting anybody but whoever that has done it is not far from a member of party in the zone.
“They burnt down by security house. “I cannot estimate the loss but the whole structure was burnt down. The police and DSS are aware.”